From 2017 to 2019, the former Government of India (GoI) Interlocutor, and current West Bengal Governor Mr. R.N Ravi, in the course of rigorous political negotiations with the Working Committee (WC) Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), dwelled on the idea of inclusive India, a civilization of thousands of years; the entry of Mughals and making India their home for hundreds of years, the trading British East India company eventually looting and plundering India’s wealth for hundreds of years, and finally the emergence of new free, independent India in 1947.
The former GoI Interlocutor Mr. R.N Ravi and subsequent other GoI representatives on Indo-Naga peace talks, and Naga representatives have all exhibited reciprocal high regard for one another. Lest anyone forgets, the Nagas bring to the table their own history, identity, culture and ancestral land to defend and protect. Only through the correct political solution, recognition of each other’s historical and political positions, can the GoI and Nagas co-exist with mutual respect. Fulfilling this criteria, the GoI Interlocutor and the Naga representatives agreed, in principle, to find a political solution, invoking, entrenching and adding clauses in the relevant instruments of the Indian constitution under federal structure as two entities.
The negotiations have successfully concluded, pending announcement by the GoI. It potentially identifies and corrects the glaring discrepancies between constitutional format and non-implementation of clauses on the ground, particularly the overlapping and visible void on article 371(A). Political Agreements between GoI and Nagas, either in the past or in recent years, must be accorded due respect and implemented because these political documents alone speak for generations, allowing Nagas and Indians to co-exist in harmony. The question of conquest or consent is ruled out. Political conflict calls for political negotiations for greater good and thus India’s judiciary or any ministry must respect the negotiated political matters. Article 371(A) is a special constitutional safeguard for Nagaland and its inhabitants, not a license for politicians to connive with corporate thieves and swindle the wealth of the people. It will be counterproductive. Natural resources, exploration and extraction are for post-solution Naga generations.
The GoI and WC, NNPGs have agreed in principle the blueprint on how the natural resources, above the ground and below, including strategic minerals and rare earths, would be utilised. WC, NNPGs will confront any force that aims to undermine the Agreed Position and Status Paper between the GoI and WC, NNPGs. The GoI too, must put a stop to these political thugs going against the spirit and principles of Agreed Position and Status Paper/competencies with petty MOUs. Nagas have never been kind to intruders and political bullies.
It must be clearly understood by the Indian Government that Article 371(A) is the only link between the union of India and the Naga people. Any question on temporary, permanent suspension or complete demolition of Article 371(A) will deem Nagaland to a pre-statehood status, in which case, Nagaland and all Nagas will have absolute right, once again, to invoke the spirit of January 10, 1929, 14th August 1947 and May 16, 1951.
Framework Agreement with NSCN (IM) was signed on 3rd August 2015.
Agreed Position was signed with WC, NNPGs on 17th Nov. 2017.
Should these political agreements fail to see the light of day, the accumulated historical injustice to the Naga people will be too much to bear. Somewhere perhaps, the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi and Honorable Home Minister of India Mr. Amit Shah, have been prevented from feeling the pulse of the people at the grassroot level. The state government, the bureaucrats and the various security agencies have fiddled for too long allowing anti-solution elements to flourish while the common people await an honorable and acceptable political solution.
The Idea of India propounded by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Dr. B.R, Ambedkar and thousands of Indian freedom fighters was a gentle, tolerant and inclusive India with secularism at its core. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) must be sensible to the idea India. The call for ‘Hindu Rashtra’ must not go against the spirit of the founding fathers of the Indian constitution. India is like a garden with many varieties of flowers. It is much more attractive than a garden filled with a single variety. People of other faiths, culture, beliefs and social practices from any corner of India are equally Indians as much as any. The Idea of unity in diversity must be upheld. It would be unwise for any religious group to feel more Indian than others. Two Indias cannot exist in one.
The political leadership of India, the elected members, particularly the ruling party, mostly owe their political orientation to RSS ideology and this is where the GoI must convince the ‘other’ India to co-exist with it, recognising their history and identity, not in words or endless parleys but through negotiated political agreements and implementations of the same. One immediate confidence building step would be the solution to the prolonged Indo-Naga political conflict. It will go a long way in convincing the ‘other’ India to feel at home, respected and recognised.
Media Cell,
WC, NNPGs.
Friday, September 4, 2026